Lawsuit against Minnelli tossed
A New York judge threw out a $10-million civil assault lawsuit Monday that had been filed against Liza Minnelli by her estranged husband, David Gest, who claimed she beat him so badly during alcoholic rages he had to be hospitalized.
State Supreme Court Justice Jane Solomon granted Minnelli’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit on the ground that Gest’s doctor had failed to rebut the 60-year-old actress-singer’s medical expert, who said Gest’s headaches were caused by a strain of herpes that causes shingles and not by beatings.
Gest’s lawyer, Lorraine Nadel, said she would appeal the ruling. She said that although Minnelli’s physician diagnosed Gest’s headaches as being caused by Herpes zoster, Gest’s doctor said he tested negative for the virus.
Minnelli and Gest were married March 16, 2002, and separated in July 2003. Their divorce case is still pending.
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